The Banque de L’Indochine, Tientsin

The other week I mentioned the good news that it seems that the Saigon branch of the old Banque de L’Indochine will be restored. The building dates from around 1929-1930. Thanks to old Tianjin Hand Douglas Red for reminding me that the Banque’s old Tientsin (Tianjin) branch is still standing and looking great (it was for many years the Tianjin Fine Arts Museum I believe). Below are pictures of the Banque building then and now. It stand on the Rue de France (now renamed Jiefang Bei Lu), obviously in the old French Concession of Tientsin. I believe the building was completed in 1912, though I’m told a local plaque claims 1902 (which would be too early).